[JACK AYLMER]
FOR MOST OF THIS YEAR, THE US HAS KEPT AN INCREASED MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WITH AROUND 40,000 TROOPS, A DOZEN WARSHIPS, AND FOUR AIR FORCE FIGHTER JET SQUADRONS SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION.
THEY’RE ALL THERE TO PROTECT ALLIES AND SERVE AS A DETERRENT, PARTICULARLY AS TENSIONS ESCALATE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH.
THIS WEEK, TENSIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH HAVE REACHED A BOILING POINT, WITH A SHARP SPIKE IN ATTACKS RAISING CONCERNS OF AN ALL-OUT WAR. ISRAEL’S DEFENSE MINISTER DECLARING A “NEW PHASE” OF THE CONFLICT, AS THE COUNTRY BATTLES HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON.
THE FIGHTING HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR NEARLY A YEAR, WITH ISRAEL FIGHTING AGAINST HAMAS MILITANTS IN GAZA AND HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON.
THE US HAS BEEFED UP ITS FORCES IN THE REGION, WITH THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND SEVERAL DESTROYERS OPERATING IN THE GULF OF OMAN AND THE RED SEA.
MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY IT’S MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE. WITH MORE RESOURCES, THE US IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO TACKLE VARIOUS HOTSPOTS IN THE REGION. FOR INSTANCE, THEY’RE ACTIVELY WORKING TO TAKE DOWN THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, WHILE ALSO DEFENDING ISRAEL FROM THREATS.
THE US IS ALSO COUNTERING THE IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHI REBELS IN YEMEN, WHO HAVE BEEN TARGETING COMMERCIAL SHIPS IN THE RED SEA AND FIRING BALLISTIC MISSILES AT ISRAEL.
THE US IS CONFIDENT IN ITS ABILITY TO PROTECT AMERICAN FORCES AND DEFEND ISRAEL WITH THE RESOURCES IT ALREADY HAS IN PLACE.
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